Chapter 84 The Gift Earned from Solitude
"What's wrong?" I pretended not to notice the water on me and asked softly. Edward took a deep breath and hesitated before speaking, "It's Anne. It suddenly started raining, and she's scared of being alone at home, so I..."
I said, "Then go accompany her."
With that, I pulled Edward's tie, leaving a dark purple kiss mark on his neck.
"Remember, you owe me tonight." I smiled, helping him re-tie his tie. Edward, as if granted some permission, quickly grabbed his coat from the hanger and put it on. Looking back, he saw me sitting back in the bathtub.
"You're not coming back with me?" Edward asked, sounding unsure.
I waved him off, "Babe, if Anne needs you, go ahead. This room's costing a fortune, and I plan to make the most of it."
I put on a cheerful front. Seeing my resolve, Edward nodded and left.
I slowly undressed and slipped into the bathtub. The warm water wrapped around me like a gentle hug, washing away the buzz from the drinks. Steam filled the room, creating a dreamy haze.
I closed my eyes, savoring the solitude. But Edward's image kept popping up in my mind. I started scrubbing my body vigorously, trying to wash away the fatigue and thoughts of him. My fingers left red marks on my arms, but I felt no pain. My mind was blank, mechanically scrubbing, wanting to feel clean. The silence of the night was broken by the sound of my scrubbing, the water echoing around the tub, like a struggle with myself.
I turned on the shower for a final rinse. Exhausted, I climbed out of the tub, wrapped myself in a towel, and sat on the sofa.
Sitting there, I fell into deep thought. I reflected on my relationship with Edward. Our sweet moments played in my mind like a slideshow. The days of companionship, the shared laughter and tears, and the romance that ended before it even began.
At that moment, my phone rang. I lazily got up to check it and saw a message from Edward. I was instantly drawn in. I cursed myself for being weak, I had promised not to love him anymore, but why was I moved again?
Edward probably felt guilty for leaving me alone today, so he texted: [Anne is fine. She was just scared of the thunder.]
[That's good to hear.] I replied, trying to keep it polite.
[Sorry to leave you alone again tonight. I'll send you a gift.]
I couldn't see Edward's face, but his indifferent words hit me hard. I faked enthusiasm: [What gift are you going to give me? I'm really looking forward to it!]
He typed back: [Tell me what you want, and I'll have Albert prepare it.]
My fingers trembled slightly as I held the phone.
I sank back into the sofa, staring at the screen. His message felt so impersonal, like my gift didn't even need his approval. It was clear that Edward's guilt was hiding something deeper. If he couldn't even pick out a gift himself, it showed how little I mattered to him.
All my past efforts felt wasted. I had been so naive, thinking marriage was just about love between two people, not realizing it involved two families and their interests. I loved Edward purely for love, not for what he could give me.
I took a sip of wine and sighed inwardly. That pure love was probably gone forever. I realized there was no real affection in a wealthy marriage. At least he made me happy in bed, and that was enough. I redefined Edward's promise of a new beginning.
I typed and sent: [I want Stellar Legal Advisors. Can you give it to me?]
[What do you need a law firm for?] Edward was puzzled. I didn't need a law firm, but it was important to someone else. I couldn't tell Edward I planned to give it away.
[You know, my dream is to become an excellent lawyer. What lawyer doesn't want to be a partner? The firm's business doesn't align with the Howard Group. It would be more useful to me than to you.] This was the first time I blatantly asked Edward for something, and it felt like a lot. I wasn't sure if he'd agree.
After a long wait, just as I was about to fall asleep, my phone buzzed.
I quickly checked and saw the message I wanted: [Okay, I'll have Albert draft the transfer agreement for Stellar Legal Advisors by tomorrow morning. You can come to the office to sign it then.]
I put on a sweet voice and sent a voice message, "Honey, you're the best. Thank you."
I couldn't help but gag a little after saying that. But I had to endure the humiliation.
I texted Lila: [Sweetie, I became the owner of Stellar Legal Advisors. We can go to the Howard Group tomorrow to sign the transfer contract.]
Yes, I was going to give Stellar Legal Advisors to Lila, the person I cared about most at the firm. I didn't know if Lila was already asleep, as I hadn't received a reply for a long time.
The hotel's soft bed was incredibly comfortable, and I slept soundly that night. When I woke up, the clock on the wall showed it was already 9 AM. The bed was as soft as a cloud, still warm from the night.
Sunlight streamed into the room through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, adding a dreamy touch to the morning. I felt warm all over. I stretched, every joint waking up with slight cracking sounds.
I lay there quietly, enjoying the comfort, my thoughts drifting between dreams and reality.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
